Herbert Philbrick (Richard Carlson) is a man who lives three lives: average ordinary advertising man, Communist Activist, and FBI informant. In this episode, Philbrick tries to figure out how the Commies are getting information overseas.

Season 1, Episode 7

Note: Episodes 1-23 of this series are Public Domain. The rest were renewed.

It's popular to state that "I Led Three Lives" was the TV version of "I Was a Communist for the FBI" but it's not quite accurate. I was a Communist for the FBI was based on the stories of Matt Cvetic, very loosely. "I Led Three Lives" told the real life stories of Herbert Philbrick and tended to be more realistic and less sensational.


This movie is part of the collection: Classic TV

Audio/Visual: sound, color
Keywords: Classic TV; Communism; Spy; I Led Three Lives

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: richgoup - - July 25, 2012
Subject: Army Infiltration (I Led 3 Lives)
Season 1, episode 7.
Original air date: 1953.
Cast: Lilyan Astaire (Margaret Wharton), Douglas Brooks (Sergeant), Richard Carlson (Herbert A. Philbrick), Madge Cleveland (Amy Wharton), Maury Dexter (Cpl. George Wharton), John Frank (Lothar), Jean Harvey (Jenny), James Nusser (Captain Norton) and John Zaremba (Special Agent Jerry Dressler).
From IMDB.

Reviewer: Ron Raygun - - January 3, 2011
Subject: Excellent Series that appears to be banned!
According to description the first 22 episodes are "public domain", but try to find them! I wish this dub was of better quality as it appears to be fuzzy and out of focus. Sound is good, but the video could stand to be cleaned up. Watched this series as a kid, and welcome its return! Some say Communism is dead, which is far from the truth. I wish all of the first 22 episodes would appear on this excellent archival site.

Reviewer: nopedals - - June 27, 2010
Subject: Two different guys
The "I was a Communist" character was Matt Cvetic, who was fired by the FBI, was a bit of a self promoter, and had an alcohol problem. The man portrayed in this show was Herb Philbrick, who was more of a straight shooter. Cvetic's shows were entertaining and cartoonish, Philbrick's were more authentic. Like comparing Dick Tracy to Dragnet.

Reviewer: 2muchtv - - June 26, 2010
Subject: If they liked it once, they'll love it twice
A small screen version of "I was a Communist for the FBI," found in the Old Time Radio wing of the Internet Archive.

In this iteration our hero has a family but still put in "nine fantastic years" and features the same faux noir production and inner voice narration style as the iconic Dana Andrews rendition.

Vaguely familiar b-listers help the lead b-lister wind his way though the twists and turns of the frightening life of a triple agent, all done to save us, the Complacent Americans, from the unseen threat of Communist infiltration.

For an even more direct scolding, see "Red Nightmare" right here in the Classic Television wing.